The Winter Getaway Guide

Best for: Gourmet Travel 

The Ritz–Carlton Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands 

From a La Prairie spa to a Greg Norman–designed golf course, luxury is everywhere you look at this recently renovated hotel on Grand Cayman’s famed Seven Mile Beach, but it’s fine dining that takes centre stage. Namely, Blue by Eric Ripert, the only AAA Five Diamond restaurant in the Caribbean, where guests can order popular dishes from his three–Michelin–starred New York restaurant Le Bernardin. Also find sushi at Taikun, a champagne brunch at Seven steakhouse, and afternoon tea or aged rum and cigars at the exquisitely designed Silver Palm lounge (to name a few). For next–level foodie travellers, the hotel plays host to Cayman Cookout, a buzzy annual culinary event filled with celebrity chefs. 

Best for: Natural Beauty 

Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge, Belize 

Why enjoy an unspoiled view from afar when you can be immersed in it? Located at the edge of a 10,000–acre nature reserve, and on over 600 acres of its own, this 31–room boutique hotel offers a variety of different hyper–private accommodations woven into the natural landscape. Riverside Rooms open onto thick rain forest and landscaped native bush gardens, while Riverview Suites have private plunge pools and overlook the Sibun River and Sleeping Giant mountain range. Don’t miss unique experiences such as farm–to–table riverside dinners, outdoor showers, hidden hammocks, guided horseback riding and jungle hikes that begin right outside your door.

Best for: Grown–Up Getaways 

Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island, Jamaica 

Seclusion and serenity hit differently when it’s adults–only, as is the case at this opulent couples–only resort in Montego Bay. Find the kinds of accommodations that will have you tagging every pic #nofilter, including Swim–Up Crystal Lagoon Suites and Over–the–Water Villas with see–through floors and personal butlers. To feel like even more of a VIP, take a complimentary two–minute boat ride to the property’s own private island, where spa treatments, private beaches and a Thai restaurant await – as well as bonfires and live entertainment, for those who want a touch of the nightlife. Unsurprisingly, the property is very popular for honeymoons, weddings and anniversaries.

Best for: Family Fun 

The Reef, The Bahamas 

Some hotels have water parks to keep the kids happy – Atlantis Paradise Island resort has Aquaventure, a 141–acre water park with a dizzying array of activities. Just off the beach, it includes 11 swimming pools, a mile–long Rapids River inner tube ride, a protected snorkelling area replete with underwater Atlantis “ruins,” and high–speed waterslides, including one that shoots you through the middle of a shark tank (from the safety of an enclosed tunnel). Animal lovers of all ages will find 50,000 marine animals in the property’s open–air lagoons and aquariums, as well as a marine habitat where they can get up close and personal with rescued bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. Little ones and teens alike won’t have time to get bored (though they might complain when you need to check out).

Best for: Water Lovers 

Karibea Sainte–Luce Hotel, Martinique 

If you’re the kind of person who spends 99 percent of your Caribbean vacation in your bathing suit, try this sprawling coastal property’s pool and beach offerings. Made up of two hotels and one residence on the southern coast of Martinique, it is bordered by two different natural beaches and boasts three large swimming pools, one with an infinity pool facing the Caribbean Sea (for that perfect shot of your back against the blue sky). Grab a snack without leaving the beach at Le Sikrier, and dine on Cajun, Creole and Caribbean cuisine with a sea view at La Yole.

Best for: Digital Nomads 

Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, Aruba  

If you can work from home, you can work from paradise. Situated on 15 acres of Aruba’s famously photogenic Palm Beach, the Hilton is catering to a new wave of travel–happy workers with its “Power Palapas” (thatched roof huts). The setup includes a power and USB charging station, sunshade privacy cover, hydrating aloe juice or coconut water, and a laptop cooling pad (after all, Aruba gets the most sunny days of all the Caribbean islands). For when it’s time to switch off and log out, there are rum–infused treatments at the eforea spa as well as a special Sunset Concierge on staff who can help you pick the best place on the island for an evening drink or picnic.

Best for: Group Getaways

St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino, St. Kitts and Nevis

Sometimes, everyone in a family or friend crew has a different vision of paradise – so your best bet is choosing a destination that will satisfy them all. At this 389–room beachfront resort, you will find a glitzy casino, 18–hole golf course, private beach with cabanas, and access to nearby adrenaline–filled excursions like ziplining through the rainforest and climbing an active volcano. Nevis and Basseterre are also close by, for those who want to check out historical must–sees like Ottley’s Plantation Inn and Brimstone Hill Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.